The UK’s biggest companies are slowly adding more diversity to their top roles. The Parker Review examined 350 major UK businesses. It found increased representation of people from ethnic minority backgrounds but noted there is still room for improvement. The Parker Review The Parker Review discovered that there are now 12 ethnic minority chief executives and seven Chairs in the FTSE 100, which lists the top 100 companies in the UK. This is an improvement from seven CEOs and six Chairs in 2022. However, in the bigger picture, only 13% of the
NASA’s latest class of astronauts, including two notable Black graduates, Andre Douglas and Christopher Williams, marks a milestone for the agency: it has enlisted 20 Black astronauts since the beginning. A Milestone For Black Astronauts NASA’s recent ceremony at the Johnson Space Center in Houston celebrated the graduation of 10 astronauts, now eligible for various flight assignments. This diverse group is set to participate in future missions, ranging from the International Space Station to the Moon and eventually to Mars. The graduates were selected from an impressive pool of over 12,000 applicants, demonstrating exceptional talent
The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is leading a significant initiative to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain central as AI technology evolves. CBC Chairman Steven Horsford, D-Nev., and Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-N.Y., announced the launch of an artificial intelligence policy series in a recent virtual press conference. The AI Policy Series The series aims to shield Black Americans from potential injustices arising from AI systems. Recognizing the influence of AI technologies, Horsford emphasized Congress’ responsibility to lead the way in understanding and shaping trends that profoundly affect their constituents’ lives and livelihoods. Clarke told reporters, “True innovation
MeVitae, a UK-based Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) startup, has successfully secured a $1.8 million (€1.7 million) seed round spearheaded by Apex Black. MeVitae Founded by Oxford University alumni, Neuroscientist Riham Satti and Computer Scientist Vivek Doraiswamy, MeVitae specializes in offering a comprehensive DEI ecosystem of HR tools. These tools, developed from a blend of AI ethics and neuroscience perspectives, are designed to detect and mitigate biases, to enhance smarter, faster, and fairer hiring decisions. “Growing up, I never considered that my gender or skin color might impede opportunities. It
After Elon Musk’s comments criticizing diversity initiatives, Tesla has removed language about having a majority-minority workforce. Tesla has omitted a line from its latest Securities and Exchange Commission filing. In its 10-K filing last month, a comprehensive report on Tesla’s activities throughout 2023, the company removed a line it used a year ago. The original line read, “With a majority-minority workforce, empowering our employee resource groups to take charge in driving initiatives that attract, develop, and retain our passionate workforce is vital to our continued success.” What Has Musk Said?
Colorintech and Meta have launched the Spectrum AI Accelerator tailored to harness the potential of diverse UK technology founders. Colorintech is an award-winning nonprofit working towards a more transparent and inclusive tech economy. It is known for its student programs and working with governments, universities, VCs, and technology companies to help close the wealth and opportunity gap for underrepresented individuals. The AI Roadshow The program is a “Roadshow” where the duo will cover three core areas across different stakeholders in the community to make them positively impacted by AI. The Roadshow is a visionary
OpenAI has responded to Congresswoman Barbara Lee and the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) after they flagged the lack of diversity on its board. The CBC’s Letter In mid-December, CBC Chairs Rep. Emanuel Cleaver and Lee sent a letter to OpenAI to diversify its board after the ouster and return of CEO Sam Altman. Altman’s return led to the departure of the board’s only two women, Helen Toner and Tasha McCauley. Thus, the tech company had only white male members on its board. In the letter, the pair outlined A’s increasing advancement, which creates
“DEI must DIE,” Elon Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, boldly declared in a Twitter/X post on December 15. “The point was to end discrimination, not replace it with different discrimination.” The South African Tesla and Twitter/X owner doubled down the following day, adding, “‘Diversity, Equity and Inclusion’ are propaganda words for racism, sexism and other -isms. This is just as morally wrong as any other racism and sexism.” Who benefits from DEI? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives aim to rectify historical and ongoing discrimination by providing equal access and opportunities
People from historically underrepresented groups are securing more roles at Fortune 500 companies. Nevertheless, a new report has found that they are overrepresented as diversity and inclusion officers and unrepresented in the C-Suite. Fortune 500 C-Suite Snapshot The executive search firm Spencer Stuart reported on its Fortune 500 C-Suite Snapshot, asking how leadership teams of Fortune 500 companies are evolving in response to changing demands. The report mapped leader profiles for 11 roles commonly included in the C-Suite to develop a snapshot of executives in these positions. C-suite executives commonly include the
UK businesses are seeking to rewrite tech’s historically poor reputation for diversity, Wiley Edge’s Diversity in Tech 2023 report found. The technology sector continues to be a driving force behind the global economy, with forecasts indicating that it is set only for further growth. However, the sector has yet to fully address an ongoing problem – the lack of workforce diversity. According to the report, as levels of income inequality reach new highs, the tech sector’s diversity dilemma puts it under added pressure to discover new ways of introducing more
